Asim Kumar ChatterjeeA Comprehensive History of Jainism, 2 vols. Vol. I: From the Earliest Beginning to AD 1000, Vol II: AD 1000-1600Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.; New Delhi, India; 2000; 8121509300 / 9788121509305; Second Revised Edition; Hardbound; New; New; In this book an attempt has been made to write to a comprehensive and connected account about Jainism from 800 BC to the time of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Jainism is older than Buddhism and first to protest against Brahmanical Hinduism, though most of the authorities on Jainism were Brahmins by birth and a few Ksatriyas also took part in the propagation. Parsvanatha, who was the real founder the penultimate tirthamkara of the religious system, lived 250 years before Gautama Buddha, Vardhamana Mahavira a contemporary of Buddha was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthamakara of this religious system whereas Rsabhanatha was the first Tirthamkara. Mahavira made Jainism vastly popular with the masses of northern India. Afterwards from first century BC Jainism became popular in south India. Inspite of systematic vilification by Buddhist and the Brahmins, Jainism still continues to be a dominant religious system in India. Printed Pages: 305. 016353